Automatic milling-machine.



No. 636,9!8. Patented Nov. l4, I899. 0. MERGENTHALER. AUTOMATIC MILLING MACHINE.

(Apphcatxon filed May 13, 1898 (No Model.) 2 Sheets8heet l,

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N0. 636,9l8. Patented Now-14,1899. O. MERGENTHALER.

AUTOMATIC MILLING MACHINE.

(Application filed May 13, 1898.) (No Model.)

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TATE-3S OTT. MERGrENTHALILR COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

AUTOMATIC MILLING-MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 636,918, dated November 14,1899. Application filed May 13, 1898. Serial No. 680,574. (No model.)

To wZZ- whom it'may concern:

Be it known that I, OTTMAR MERGENTHA- LER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Baltimore, in the State of Maryland, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automatic Milling-Machines, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to automatic millinginachines, and especially to that class of milling-machines wherein blanks are stored in a magazine, from which they are discharged one by one and brought under the act-ion of one or more milling tools or cutters.

In another application for Letters Patent filed by me, Serial No. 680,301,.1 have shown and described a form of milling-machine provided with a vertical magazine wherein the blanks to be acted upon are stored one upon another, the blanks being fed therefrom one by one and brought under the action of the milling-tools. In the present machine instead of the vertical magazine lemploy a rotatable annular magazine suitably actuated.

and adapted to receive and contain blanks which, because of projecting portions, as hereinafter described, are not capable of being stored one upon another and accurately and readily delivered one at a time. up

The presentinven tion includes milling-cutters which in addition to their cutting function act as guides for the blank during the cutting operation and regulate the depth of the out. The specific cutters illustrated have fiat smooth faces in line with the guideway for the blank. These faces bear upon the blanks as they are fed forward andguide them through the cutters. v The depth of cut is rendered uniform throughout by the flat bearing-face of the cutter, which prevents the cutter from penetrating deeper afterit begins to cut. The cutters therefore serve as means to guide the blanks and to regulate the depth of out. As shown, there are two opposite cutters, one of which is adjustable toward the other and presses toward the work by a spring, its normal position being determined by a set-screw or other suitable ad j usting device.

Although it will be understood that my improved machine is capable of general application wherever it may be desired to operate upon a series of blanks, it is shown and described herein as employed in connection with the manufacture of matrices for use in linotype-machines-such, for example, as those shown and described in Letters Patent of the United States Nos. 436,531 and 436,532, granted to me on the 16th day of September, 1890.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 is a top plan view of my improved milling-machine, partly in section and certain parts being broken away. Fig. 2 is a partial side view of myimproved machine, partly in section and certain parts being broken away. Fig. 3 is a detached detail view designed to illustrate the peculiar action of the milling tools. Fig. 4 is a sectional detail view taken substantially on the line4 4in Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a sectional detail view taken substantially. on the line 5 5-in Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is a side view of the blank to be operated upon and clearly indicating the bulges or projections whichit is desired to remove. Fig. 7 is a detail view illustrating a modification of the cutter and guide.

The frame A of the machine is or may be of any suitable construction, provided only that it has sufficient strength and rigidity to sustain the operating parts. The frame is provided with a guidewayA, along which the blanks are fed from the magazine to the cut ters, and with a receiving-receptacle A into which the finished blanks are removed after the cutters have operated upon them.

Power is imparted to the machine from any suitable source by the pulley G, which is fast upon the shaft G. Also carried upon the shaft G are the pinion G which imparts motion to the pinion H, and the worm G which imparts motion to the worm-gear G The worm-gear G4 is fast upon the counter-shaft L, which carries at its 'farther end the bevelpinion L, which meshes into and turns the bevel-pinion L fast upon the cam-shaft M. These various shafts and parts are suitably journaled'and mounted on the frame of the machine. 1

The annular magazine B is centrally piv oted at B upon the plate A above the main frame A of the machine, in such manner that 100 it is capable of rotation about its central pivot B The magazine B is provided at or near its periphery with a series of vertical pockets B,adapted to receive and hold the blanks X X, placed therein. A step-by-step rotation of the magazine B about its pivot B is secured by the reciprocating pawl C, attached to the elbow-lever G, which is also pivoted at B Pivoted to the other end of the elbowlever C is the link G which in turn is pivoted to the lever C pivoted at C to the frame of the machine. The spring C", attached to the frame of the machine and to the lever C normally tends to retract the elbow-lever O and pawl C. This action of the spring C is, however, resisted and controlled by the cam 0 fast upon the cam-shaft M and so shaped that in its rotation it will effect the intermittent step-by step rotation of the magazine B by reason of the engagement therewith of the pawl O. The plate A is formed with a recess or opening A", which as the pocket-s 13 are consecutively brought into registration therewith by the rotation of the magazine B permits the escape of a single blank at a time into the vertical guide D, through which it drops by gravity into proper position to be acted upon by the feeding device. It will be understood that the timing of the cam C in relation to the other operative parts is such that one blank at a time will be delivered, so that it may be fed at the proper time into contact with the cutters.

The feeding device consists of a slide E, located upon the main frame of the machine and positively driven forward by the cam E on the cam-shaft M. The retraction of the slide E after the action of the cam is accomplished by a cord E passing about a pulley and connected to the spring E The slide E is provided with a thin blade E, (see particularly Figs. 4 and 5,) which enters the guide D and feeds the blank therein contained along the guideway A, under the spring-guide J, between and past the cutters I II, under the spring-guide J, and in to the receiver A The spring-guides J and J serve to guide and accurately hold the blank in relation to the cutters.

The arrangement and actuation of the cutters will now be described.

The pinion II, which is actuated by the pinion G as previously described, is fast upon the shaft or spindle H, suitablyjournaled in the frame A, and which at its other end carries the cutter H so located with relation to the guideway A as to act upon one side of the blank X as it is fed therethrough. At the other side of the guideway A and directly opposite to the cutter H is the cutter 1 fast upon the shaft or spindle I, which carries at its outer end the pinion I. The pinion I receives motion from a pinion G similar to the pinion G but situated at the opposite end of the shaft G, which meshes into and turns the pinion I in the same manner that the pinion G meshes into and turns the pinion II. The shaft or spindle I is'suitably journaled at I and I on the frame A in such manner as to be capable of a slight longitudinal movement thereon. Fast upon the shaft 1 is the collar 1 between which and the journal I is interposed the spring I, which, acting upon the collar 1", tends normally to advance the cutter I and to keep it in close contact with the work which has been interposed between the cutters. An adjustingscrew 1 located in the collar I and abutting against the bearing 1 limits the inward movement of the cutter I and permits of its adaptation to blanks of diiferent thickness. In order to retract the cutter 1 against the spring I, so as to permit of the partial introduction of a blank, I have provided the pivoted lever F, which is acted upon by the cam F on the cam-shaft M in such manner that the rotation of the cam F', by reason of the piece F thereon, serves at the proper interval to operate the lever F and to retract the cutter I to permit of the introduction of the blank. A spring F, attached to the main frame and to the lever F, serves to keep the lever It in constant contact with the cam F After the feedslide E has carried the blank past the cutters and from under the guide J into the receptacle A it must be moved in said receptacle in such manner as to leave a clear space for the succeeding blank, and to this end I have provided the reciprocating piece K, which slides in the receptacle A Pivoted to the slidepiece K is the lever K, which is acted upon by the cam-piece K of the face-cam K on the cam-shaft M. A spring K attached to the main frame and to the lever K, serves to retract the slide-piece K and to keep the lever K in constant contact with the cam K It will be understood that the cam K is so shaped and timed that in the rotation of the cam-shaft M it will at the proper time effect the movement of the blank along the receptacle A Fig. 6 shows an edge view of the blank or matrix X, which may be acted upon by my improved milling-machine. The bulges or projections X X are to be removed therefrom by the action of the cutters. It will be seen that the bulges X X prevent the proper stacking or storing of the blanks in a vertical magazine, such as is described and shown in my application for Letters Patent previously referred to, but that the blanks may be assembled singly in the annular magazine B, herein described.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 3, the cutters II I have fiat smooth faces which bear upon the blanks, and cutting edges which remove the bulges or projections X from the blanks. The blanks have portions of the desired thickness which are first introduced between the cutters, and the smooth faces of the cutters bear upon these portions and serve to guide the blanks and to prevent the'cutters from cutting deeper as the operation progresses. This operation is clearly indicated in Fig. 3, and by this arrangement I am enabled to accurately and conveniently remove IIO slide-piece E, which engages it by the thin blade E and carries it through the guideway A, under the spring-guide J, between the cutters 1 H under the spring-guide J, into the receptacle A during which operation the bulges X X have been removed in the man ner previously described. The slide-piece K is then actuated to move the blank along the receptacle A It will be understood that during this operation the lever F has acted to move back the cutter I against the pressure of the spring I in such manner as to permit of the partial introduction of a blank and has then released the spring I and cutter 1 so that the latter may take its operative position with regard to the work in such manner that it may be suitably guided thereby. The operation of the parts then proceeds as before.

Fig. 7 illustrates a modification of the arrangement of the guides and cutters which may be employed when it is desired to use face-cutters instead of edge-cutters. As before, I may employ the spindle H, but provided with the stationary guide P, through which it projects and in which it is free to rotate, and having fixed at its end the facecutter R; and, similarly, .I may employ the longitudinally-movable spindle I, having-attached to it the collar 1 against which the spring I impinges. The spindle I is, however, provided with the guide piece Q, through which it projects and in which it is free to turn, and has the face-cutter'R secured at its outer end. The guide Q is movable with the spindle I, and due to the engagement of the spindle I with it (by the shoulder shown in dotted lines) is forced by the spring 1 into contact with the work during the operation of the cutter R, firmly holding the work and insuring the accurate operation of the cutter.

Although I have shown and described my invention as applied to the special manufacture of linotype-matrices, it will be obvious that it is capable of more general application wherever similar operations may be'desired and for similar purposes. It willbe understood also that many of the details ofmy machine may be varied without departing from the spirit of my invention, and that cutters in larger or smaller number may be employed, and that their location may be varied, and

that other changes may be made, and I do not desire to limit myself to the specific devices herein described.

Having described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is

1. In a milling-machine, the combination with a suitably-actuated milling-cutter, of a circular magazine provided with a circular series of blank-holding pockets or receptacles which are open on their lower sides, a support beneath said magazine upon which the blanks in said pockets rest, an opening in said support through which the blanks drop successively, means for rotating the magazine, and means for feeding the blanks to the cutter as they drop from the magazine, substantially as described.

2. In a milling-machine, the combination with a suitably-actuated milling-cutter, of a magazine having a circular series of blankholding pockets, means for imparting a stepby-step motion to said magazine, a stationary support for the blanks in said pocket, said support having an opening through which the blanks may drop successively, a channel beneath said opening and leading to the milling-cutter, a guide for conveying the blanks from the opening to the channel, a feed-slide in said channel, and means for moving said slide to convey blanks to the cutter, substantially as described.

3. In a milling-machine, the combination of a pair of spindles in line with each other, means for positively rotating said spindles, and cutters mounted on the adjacent ends of said spindles, said 'cutt .ers having fiat parallel inner faces and serrated edges, substantially as described. I

4. In a milling-machine, the combination of two cutter-spindles arranged in linewitheach other, means for positively driving said spindles, cutters carried by the adj acentends of said spindles and having flat inner faces and serrated edges, a guide through which blanks are fed to said cutters, and means for separating the cutters periodically to admit new blanks, the fiat innerfaces of the cut ters serving to guide the blanks properly dur-. ing the cutting operation.

5. In a milling-machine, the combination with a guide-channel for the blanks, of a cutter movable toward and away from the said channel, and a spring tending to hold the cutter against the blanks in the channel, substantially as described.

6. In a milling-machine, the combination with a guide-channel for blanks,'of a rotating cutter having a longitudinally-movable arbor, and means for moving back the cutter periodically to receive new blanks, substan tially as described.

7. In a milling-machine, the combination of a longitudinally-movable arbor, a cuttingtool thereon, a spring normally urging said arbor in one direction, a stop to limit the movement of the arbor, and means for intermittently shifting the arbor in the opposite direction, substantially as described.

8. In a milling-machine, the combination with a guideway for blanks, of suitably-actuated rotating cutters on opposite sides of said guideway, a spring in said guideway arranged to hold the blanks in proper relation to the cutters, and means for feeding individual blanks successively under the spring and through the cutters.

9. In a milling-machine, the combination with a guideway, of a pair of suitably-operated rotating cutters arranged on opposite sides of said guideway, one of said cutters being arranged to rotate in a fixed position and the other cutter having an axial movement toward and from the guideway, means for moving individual blanks along the said guideway to the cutters, and aspring in said guideway for directing the blanks to the cutter, said spring and said axially-movable cutter being arranged on the same side of the guideway.

10. In a milling-machine, the combination of a longitudinally-movable spindle, a cutter mounted in said spindle and having a fiat face and a serrated periphery, a spring normally urging said cutter in one direction, devices for feeding blanks successively to the cutter, and means for moving the cutter-spindle longitudinally to withdraw the cutter for the purpose of admitting a blank each time a blank is presented by the feeding device, substantially as described.

11. In a milling-machine, the combination with a rotating spindle capable of axial movement, of a cutter having a flat face and a serrated periphery, said cutter being mounted on said spindle, and the flat face of the outter being adapted to serve as a. work-guide and a stop to regulate the depth of the cut.

12. In a milling-machine, the combination with a guide-channel for blanks, and a milling-cutter, of a rotatable magazine having receptacles for blanks, means for discharging the blanks successively from the magazine to the guide-channel, means for feeding the blanks successively along the channel to the cutter, a receiving-magazine into which the blanks are discharged from the cutter, and means for advancing the blanks in the receiving-magazine periodically, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

OTT. MERGENTHALER.

Witnesses:

WILLIAM H. BERRY, MURRAY HANSON. 

